BY POPULAR DEMAND: KIDS' MATINEE!!

Please join us on Friday, February 27th in the Lane Room at 2 p.m. for a showing of the new DVD release Madagascar 2. This film features the voices of Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Its running time is 89 minutes. It is rated PG.

Light refreshments will be provided. Admission is free.

Please note that children in first grade and younger must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian. Children between grades 2-4 must have a parent or guardian present in the library throughout their visit.

We look forward to seeing you!

Guitar Hero / RockBand Gaming Event

We're celebrating next month's Teen Tech Week by hosting a Guitar Hero and RockBand Gaming Event.

On Wednesday, March 11 from 3:00-4:30 p.m., in our Lane Room, HoloDek of Kittery, ME will be providing all of the equipment we'll need, so just come and rock out! Now’s the time to show off those skills– whether guitar, bass, vocal, or drumming. This event is open to 12-18 year olds. Attendance is not limited, but please do sign up in the Children's Room, so that we’ll know how much equipment we’ll need.

Questions about this event? Ask Kirsten in the Children’s Room, by phone @ 926-4729, or by email.

The Cider House Rules : Read the book... then see the movie

How can anyone not love a book that simultaneously tells a deeply moving and compelling story and explore the abortion debate with humor and evenhandedness? In The Cider House Rules Irving knows his characters and gradually reveals their quirks and idiosyncrasies. He knows and loves them so much, the reader can't help but love the ether-imbibing Dr. Larch and his surrogate son, the orphan Homer Wells. Irving is a consummate storyteller.

Joseph Heller, author of Catch 22, describes this book as "Superb in scope and originality, a novel as good as one could hope to find from any author, anywhere, anytime. Engrossing, moving, thoroughly satisfying."

About the movie, film critic Roger Ebert wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times “The Cider House Rules is often absorbing or enchanting in its parts. Michael Caine's performance is one of his best, and Charlize Theron is sweet and direct as the girl. But Tobey Maguire is almost maddeningly monotone as Homer (is his performance inspired by Benjamin in "The Graduate"?) and the movie never does resolve its ambiguity toward Mr. Rose, who is guilty of incest and yet--somehow, murkily--not entirely a monster. The story touches many themes, lingers with some of them, moves on and arrives at nowhere in particular. It's not a story so much as a reverie about possible stories.”

The movie won two Oscars in 1999: Michael Caine for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and John Irving for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published. It was also nominated for Best Picture.

Both are available at the Lane Memorial Library.

Did you know.....

The Lane Memorial Library is open 60 hours per week, including 4 evenings and every Saturday?

We host two book discussions for adults: one on the third Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m., and the second on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

In 2008 volunteers donated over 2,415 hours of labor to help with library tasks and events.

Our collection of 157,970 items to borrow includes over 4,600 videos and DVDs, a 42-piece art collection, and 2000 large print books.

We subscribe to 13 newspapers and 291 magazines.

We hold two large book sales per year, one specifically for children and one for the general public.

We fill 99% of the interlibrary loan items our patrons request, sometimes from as far away as California.

We hold an average of 16 story times every month.

A total of $2975 was collected in our donation jars in 2008.

Two Stories on the Library in Today's Paper

If you haven't seen today's (Feb 17th) Hampton Union, you will have missed two stories about the library:

"Kids Fill Up On Love" is about the Valentine's Sweetheart Tea held on Valentine's Day Saturday. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, this annual program is always a quick sell-out, and a fun time for 40 lucky 3-8 year olds.

"Mythology Bee Crowns Winner" describes the new twist on spelling and geography bees that was held at the library last week. Sixth-grader Hunter McKenzie walked away the winner.

Read the book... then see the movie

More often than not these days movies are based on books. Before the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, how many of us actually read this F. Scott Fitzgerald gem, let alone even heard of it? Some books are popular on their own but gain in popularity once the movie is released. The Bourne Identity, for instance, has been around since 1980, but Matt Damon’s superb role as Jason Bourne in 2002 made the book a hit all over again. Can anyone who has seen the movie now read the book without picturing Damon as the main character?

Which brings us to the next question: is it better to read the book first, or see the movie first? Do we want to see the movie and then pick up all the nuances the filmmakers missed by reading the book? Or do we want to carve out our own ideas of the characters by reading it first, and then see how close the filmmakers come to our own ideals of how the movie should play out? And do you ever play the game, as I do in my household, guessing who would best star in a particularly well-loved book that hasn’t yet been made into a movie?

Are there any books you would simply have to read before seeing the movie? Are there any movie adaptations you would avoid altogether?

The Lane Memorial Library has lots of book and movie pairings. This week we’re featuring Atonement, the book by Ian McEwan (2002), and the movie starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (2007). The novel is psychologically haunting and masterfully crafted. The story involves three major subplots: innocent youth gone awry, the Second World War and its terrible consequences on Britain, and the seeking of atonement for one’s past misdeeds. The movie blends fantasy and reality so that we are left not knowing which is which. My suggestion: read the book first.

Both are available at the Lane Memorial Library.

SPRING STORY TIMES AT LANE

The week of Febrary 16th marks the end of our winter story times. Many thanks to all the families who came to listen to books, learn songs and games, and meet new friends.

Sign-ups for Spring Story Times begin on Monday, March 2.

The story times themselves begin the week of March 16th and last for 6 weeks, ending the week of April 20th.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays-9:30-10 a.m.-Toddler story time (children ages 15 months-3 years)

Wednesdays-9:30-10 a.m.-Toddler story time (children ages 15 months-3 years)

Wednesdays-10:30-11:15 a.m.-3-year-old story

Thursdays-10-10:45 a.m-4-5-year-olds

Space is limited, so please sign up prior to the first story time. You can do so in person, or call us at 926-4729.

We look forward to seeing you!

Puppet-Making Workshop with MARTHA DANA

Attention all children grades K-5:

Please join fabulous puppeteer Martha Dana in a puppet-making workshop on Tuesday, February 24th, from 1-2:30 p.m in the Lane Room. You will learn to craft a felt bird during this session. All materials are provided by Martha and the Children's Room.

This event is free, but space is limited to 15 youngsters, so please sign up by Saturday, February 21st.

**Please note: If you are in first grade or younger, you will need to have your parent or adult-age guardian in the Lane Room with you. If you are in grades 2-4, a parent or adult-age guardian must remain in the Lane building while you are on the premises. Thank you!

10 Ways Your Library Can Save You Money

10 Ways Your Library Can Save You Money

1. Free books! Why purchase them if you can borrow them for free? Or if you want to preview a book before purchasing, check them out at the library first.

2. Free DVDs! Take a break from rental costs and borrow our DVDs for free. We not only have the latest movies, we have indie films and television series as well.

3. Recipes – cooking at home saves money. Come check out some cookbooks for new ideas.

4. Tax help – our AARP Tax Volunteers will prepare and e-file your personal taxes for free.

5. Read your favorite magazines online. If your subscriptions are up for renewal and you’re on the fence about paying for another year, check out our online magazine database. Thousands of popular magazines are available for free.

6. Free internet and wi-fi access. Make your own travel arrangements, keep in touch with family and friends, research, or just have fun. A great way to escape the heat or cold for an hour.

7. Attend our great programs. Children’s story hours are ongoing. We also have a knitting group, book groups, and other activities for adults.

8. Find a new job or learn a new skill. We have a variety of books on writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and exploring your next career. Or go a step further and learn how to start your own business.

9. Learn a language! The library has CDs for learning new languages, from French and Spanish to Japanese and Tagalog.

10. Don’t spend your money! Come to the Lane Memorial Library and shop our shelves. It’s a great alternative to recreational shopping.

The Twilight Book Club reads "A Stranger in the Kingdom"

On Tuesday, March 3rd at 6:30 PM, the Twilight Book Club will meet to discuss A Stranger in the Kingdom, by Howard Frank Mosher.

Vermont writer Mosher has created a wonderful novel about a moment in time in a small town in Vermont. Told from the point of view of 13-year-old James, it exposes small-town thinking and its effects on a young teenage boy and his life from that point on. Lots of action, suspense, warm and crusty Vermont characters, baseball and apple pie for everyone. But the book has an important edge beneath the veneer of small town life. This could be about any town anywhere in America. It exposes the underside of people—the dark side—of prejudice and clannishness. An important book. One you won't forget easily.

"Reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird and Anatomy of a Murder--Absorbing."
-- The New York Times

"Magnificent--compelling--a dark drama--told with such dexterity--shot through with such light and humor, with such marvelous assemblage of major and minor figures--and such intimate understanding of community mores and history, that there is no danger of this being a one-season best seller."
-- The Vermont Sunday Magazine

Book group copies are available at the Circulation Desk. For more information, contact Debra Perry at debraperry@gmail.com.

The Twilight Book Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Dorothy Little room.